A second theme that rose to the top is developing an awareness of the people and systems around you.  I’ve long been challenged by the question “do you really know any non-Christians?”  But Dave Watson expanded this by asking if we even try to develop strategies for people who don’t live like us.  There are people who work graveyard shift and are up all night, but why aren’t there churches meeting at 4 in the morning?

My favorite presentation was by Hugh Halter of Denver, Colorado.  Hugh is disturbingly honest in person in a way that his book cannot get across.  His concept of a church with simple outwardly focused structure, that is still hard to get in to, sounds more authentic and natural than any Sunday morning show and awkward living room Bible Study I’ve ever taken part.

I’m excited for day three.

7am-Shaved the travel beard.  I hadn’t shaved since before leaving the States and had two months of nastiness to get rid of.

8:15am- Littleton Church of Christ, where I was priviledged to hear ACU’s young preaching prodigy Colin Packer.

12pm- Called my old friend Jeff Cole, only to find out he’s left Colorado for Fuller’s big campus in Pasadena.

2pm- Grandma’s 80th birthday.  3 generations of church of Christ leadership from across Denver showed of to celebrated.  Good woman.

5pm- Met up with my old friend Michael Hannegan at Adullam.  Had just enough time to shake hands with Hugh Halter and steal some food.

6:30pm- Mike and I arrived at the Castle Rock church of Christ in time to catch the last few minutes of the Angola Team‘s presentation.

7:30pm- Hugged friends and people who had a huge influence on me that I hadn’t seen since High School.  Teared up thinking of some really good times.

8:30pm- Heard the story behind my good, dear friends Robert and Teague‘s choices to go to Angola and to adopt to sibling boys from Ethiopia.  Prayed together. 

10:30pm- Drove Mike to his car and the discussed quandry of remaining loyal to the churches of our youth in a post-denominational America.

Today was a bigger blessing than I could have asked for.  I am so thankful for what God is doing in my life right now (although many days it is miserable), and the chances I get to see his work around the world.  I am also incredibly grateful to cross paths with those who meant so much to me when I was younger, and see them in dedicated service to our Lord.